Roller-bearing.



B. S. LAWSQN.

ROLLER BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR,10,1910.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

2 SHEETS-$111371 1.

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B! 9;. LAWSON. ROLLER BEARING:

APILIOATION TILED MAR.10,1910.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

PV/TNESSES: INVEIZ/TOR.

. flfly Wu UNITED STAEEgATENT FFICE.

BENJAMIN S. LAWSON, OF BROOKLYN. NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 ASA L. MERRICK,OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

ROLLER-BEARING T 0 (1H r d/om it may concern:

Be 'it ikuown that I, Bnxmulx is. Luvsox, a citwen oi the United States,and resident of ln-(Yoltlyn. in the county of Queens. in the State-oiNew York, have invented new and useful llnprovements in Roller-Bearings, of which the following. taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings. is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention pertains to anti-friction journal bearings of that typewhich are more particularly designed for railway caraxles. and it isespecially related to the style of axle-l'icarings embodying a box orcasing having its interior formed annular to serve. as the outer bearingsurface for an annular series of rollers encompassing the axle disposedconcentric with the roller-heiu'ing surface, the roller-bearing surfaceof the axle extending part way the l ngth ot the rollers and beingmidway between the ends thereof.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a roller-bearingot' the atore' said character which shall be greatly si1nplitied wherebythe expense in the equip ment of railway car-trucks will be materiallyreduced, and at the same time produce a structure which shall possessmaximum strength and durability and increased efficiency, -\\l')(l'('l)it will be especially adapted for heavy railwa vcars.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple andreliable meansFor securely connecting the end of the axle to the socalled bonnet ot'the box to prevent disl'ilacement of the cooperating parts of thebearing, whereby the use of end-thrust rollers and balls commonlyenn'iloyed in bearings of this character may be dispensed with.

Another object of the invention is to produce a construction wherein apositive and uniform distribution of lubricating-oil over theIUllQF-lUOHI'lIIg sin-faces will be main tained.

Other objects of the invention will be ap' parent from the novelarrangement and combination of the component parts of the axlcbearingwhich will be hereinafter fully described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a longitudinal sectional viewof the rollcrbearing embodying my improvements; Fig. :2 is a transversesection on the dotted line -X-X- in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinalSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1910.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911. Serial No. 548,346.

section on the line -Y-Y- in Fig. 1; Fig. l is a detail inner face viewof the yoke which straddles the end portion of the axle; and Fig. 5 is adetail face view of the plate which keys the yoke to the bonnet.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views ofthe drawings.

-1- denotes the box or casing which is of the general type used inroller-bearings of car-axles.

-2 denotes the usual so-called bonnet provided on the outer end oi. theaxle-box and is generally of rectangular shape. In the present instancethis bonnet is formed integral with the box and it is provided at" -3---extending its top with an opening the full width thereof to atl'ordaccess to the interior, said opening being provided with the usual doorl--- hinged to the top portion of the box in the well-known manner.

denotes the axle formed with the usual circumlerential groove ---(3---whereby a collar ----7- is produced on the extreme end thereof.

The exterior of the box may be of any suitable or well known design,while the interior thereof is of annular shape. For a portion of thelength oi the box, midway between the ends thereof, the interior isformed with a cylindrical roller-liearing surface -8-- which isconcentric with the axle, and at the sides of the cylindricalbearing-surface the interior is gradually reduced eircumterentiallytoward the ends of the box to provide two eoacting oppositely taperedroll(a'-bearing sur't'aces --9-9 terminating at the end walls of saidbox all of which surfaces are case-hardened.

'l0- denotes a plain bearing-sleeve which embraces the axle within thebox and has its inner end abutting against a circumferential shoulder-11- formed on the axle and disposed adjacent to the corresponding endof the. box, the opposite end of which sleeve is disposed'tlush with theinner side edge oi the aforesaid groove ti in the axle. This sleeveconsists preterably of a cold-drawn steel tube which may be of anydesired gage.

Between the box and bearingsleeve is disposed a series of rollers 1212which are formed hollow and preferably composed of cold-drawn steeltubing. For a portion of its length, midway between the ends ispreferably the friction between the parts is reduced to yoke at thefront of the collar 7-.

i thereof, each roller is of plain cylindrical shape to conform to thebearing-surface 8- on the interior of the box -1- the end portions ofthe roller being tapered correspondingly with the co-actingbearingsurfaces -99. The tapering of the rollers produced by contractingthe end portions. By thus tapering the rollers, they are afforded acomparatively short bearing-surface. on the sleeve -10 midwaybetween theends of the sleeve whereby a greater degree, and the corresponding taperof the bearing-surfaces -9-9' effectually guards against the liabilityof the rollers to tilt, and thus proper working positions' of the partsare'insured. The said hollow rollers are designed to contain waste orother. material capable of absorbing lubricating-oil, and atthe centerof the cylindrical portion of each roller is provided a small aperture-12 for the exit of the oil whereby the latter is distributed over thebearing-surfaces.

On the inner sides of the'end walls ofthe box '-1 are formed annularbosses --13-13 which are concentric with the axle and are provided withvertical faces which are in close proximity to theends of the rollers.These faces are designed to receive the end-thrustof the rollers andthey are of such width and so disposed as to bear on small port-ions ofthe end faces of the rollers adjacent to the sleeve.

14 denotes a yoke which is disposed within the bonnet -.2. end portionof the axle. This yoke is shaped to conform to the circumferentialgroove -6- andcollar -7 of the axle and it is formed with an externalgroove 15- which is disposed in front of the collar. To lock the yoke tothe bonnet so as to guard against longitudinal displacement of the boxin relation to the axle, -l6- consisting of a vertically disposedp'llate, which is of rectangular form and is isposed removably in twocorrespondingly arranged channels 17-17- formed at opposite sides of thebonnet on the interior thereof. Said plate is provided with a widecentrally disposed vertical slot 18 formed with a semi-circular upperend'and extending through the lower edge thereof so as to conform to theyoke, whereby it is seated in the like shaped groove formed in ltpe 1eaforesaid opening 3 in the top of the bonnet allows this plate to bereadily removed and; replaced. I prefer to provide the top portion ofthis plate with an aperture -20--.'- which is designed to receive theendof a bar or other device for conveniently removing the same;

By the described arrangement of the parts it will be evident that inevent of any tendand straddles the I provide a key "concentric with theaxle,

ency of the bearing-sleeve to shift upon the axle. the position of therollers will not be affected. Furthermore, by locating the end-thrustfor the roller as stated, it is obvious that the liability of therollers to tilt is eliminated.

At the inner end of the box is provided the usual and well knowndust-guard -21 fixed to the axle so as to encompass a flange formed onthe box.

While I have shown the bearing-sleeve -10- embracing the axle, still atthe same time it is obvious that this may be dispensed with, in whichinstance the rollers would be afforded a direct bearing upon the axle. Iprefer however to use this sleeve. for

the reason that it obviates the expense incurred by case-hardening andmachining of' the axle which would be'necessitated in order to providean efficient bearing-surface for the rollers p No claim is herein madeto the yoke and its allied parts-, as theyare reserved and form thesubject-matter of a divisional application filed on or about-the 15thday of November, 1910, Serial No. 592,592.

What I claim is 1. In a journal-bearing of the class speciand anaxle-box; of a series of rollers interposed between said parts,,eachroller being provided with a central cylindrical portion and withtapered end sections, the rollers being of a length substantially equal'tothe .interior length of the box, and bearing upon faces formed uponcomplemental in form to the outline of the the interior of the boxrollers.

2; In a journal-bearing, the. combination with the axle and the axle-boxformed with end walls through which the axle extends and having-itsinterior provided for a port-ion of its length midway between its endswith a cylindrical bearing-surface which is the portions at oppositesides of said cylindrical bearing-surface being gradually reducedcircumferentially to provide two oppositely tapered bearing-surfacesterminating at the end walls of the box, of a series of rollersinterposed 'fied, the combination with a cylindrical axle between theaxleand box and extending substantially the entire length of the box,the said rollers having their end porv tions tapered so as to conform tothe tapered bearing-surfaces of the box.

3. In a journal-bearing, the combination with a cylindrical axle andaxle-box formed with end walls provided with coinciding openings throughwhich the axle extends;

of'a series of independent rollers interposed between saidaxle and box,the interior of the box being provided midway between its ends with acylindrical main roller-bearing surface and at the opposite sides ofsaid surface with tapering roller-bearing sur-' faces extendingsubstantially to the end walls of the box.

4. The combination with an axle, a bearing-sleeve thereon, and ajournal-box formed with end-walls provided with coin-' ciding openingsthrough which the axle extends and having its interior formed annularand disposed concentric with the sleeve, of a series or rollersinterposed between the sleeve and box and extending substantially theentire length of the box, said rollers having their end portions taperedwhereby they are att'orded bearing-surfaces on the sleeve for a portionof its length, as set forth.

5. The combination with an axle, a plain bearing-sleeve thereon, and ajournal-box having its interior formed annular and provided for aportion of its length, midway between the ends thereof, with acylindrical roller-bearing surface which is concentric with the sleeve,the portions at opposite sides of the cylindrical bearing-surface beingreduced circumferentially to provide t 'yvo oppositely tapered co-actingbearingsurfaces terminating at the end of the box, of a series ofrollers interposed between the sleeve and box and having their endportions tapered so as to conform to the bearing-surfaces of the box,and whereby the rollers are afforded a bearing-surface on the sleeve fora portion of the length of the sleeve and midway between its ends as setforth. 4

6. In a journal-bearing, the combination with an axle and axle-boxhaving its interior formed annular and arranged'concentrio with theaxle, of a series of hollow roll- -the box having their end portionstapered whereby they are afforded bearing-surfaces on the sleeve for aportion of its length, said rollers being adapted to containlubricant-absorbing material and each provided at the center of itslength with an aperture serving, to feed the lubricant to thebearingsurfaces as set forth.

8. The combination with an axle and axle-box having its interior formedannular, of a series of rollers interposed between the axle and box andhaving their end portions tapered and disposed adjacent to the end wallsof the box, the end-walls being formed on their inner faces with annularbosses which are out of contact with the axle and concentric therewithto receive the endthrust of the rollers and disposed to bear on smallportions of the end faces of the rollers as set 't'orth.

BENJAMIN S. LAWVSON.

\Vituesses:

H. A. LovELAoE, S. KAISER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C.

